The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-28
The Female Theater-Goer's Big Scent
Bottle Superseded by the Lorgnette.
Fashionable Finery Illuminated by Vari-Col-
ored Lights Tempered with Religion-Mrs.
Langtry's Shrewd Business Sense.

NEW YORK, Aug 27.-Edith Gould has a boy
baby. The telegraph told you so more than =
week ago. AS the oldest son of Jay Go uld's old
est son, he is an interesting little fellow. Jay
Gould expects TO die leaving hundred millions.
George Gould might easily leave five hundred
millions. Therefore the grandson of the great
accumuiator might figure his portion up to
thousand millions when he comes to make his
will. Where is the baby girl who is destined to
catch him2 Away with surmises. Let US deal
with the plain, present fact of the infants ward
robe. All the information I can give that
subject relates to the lace profusely used to
bellish the wardrobe. About six months ago
Mrs. George Gould was talking in her father-in-
laws presence of a wonderfully beautiful speci-
men of lace that she had seen in London. while
she was playing there with American theatri-
cal company, just before her retirement from
the stage and marriage. This lace was, she said,
perfect example of the most exquisite point
d'Alencon It had been the property of the
Empress Eugenie. It was unique, on account
not only of the beauty of its floral design, but
also the perfection of its color. The tone OF the
lace throughout a delicate creamy white.
while the slight difference in color between the
flowers and the foundation on which they were
worked, could be appreciated by the connoisseur
in these matters. 1t had not been obtained by
tinting, as in the Of inferior laces. but it
was simply the natural result of the patient
hand labor expended on its manufacture. This
exquisite piece of point d'Alencon consisted OF
ten yards of wide founcing, besides handsome
garniture in two widths to correspond. Young
Mrs. Gould expatiated on the beauties of this
lace volubly.
"Do you want itl" Jay Gould asked.
sIt would delight me-" was Ediths reply.
''What would You do with it'll"
She gave an evasive answer. But her desire
to possess that particular piece of lace was un
equivocal Mr.. Gould said that she should have
it. Within two weeks it was in the house. for
the order to buy it was sent over the cable. The
price was 92, 900, or $4,000. and the duty and
other expenses raised the to about SIS, 900.
The bride knew what she meant to do with that
lace. 1t cut up ruthlessly. and vasiously
utilized in embellishng the clothes for the baby
who has now come into the Gould family. The
youngster doesn't know it, but his elegance of
wardrobe is extreme. Experts are frequently
deceived by clever limitations Of old china and
even of the paintings of the old masters, but it
has been proved over and over again that it is
impossible to reproduce fine old
lace. Good ANTIQUE lace is inevitably
full of intricate details. which were lavished on
tn g work regardless of the labor and the time
expended. These lac-nakers thought nothing
of their own trouble, so long the result came
as near to perfection as possjht- Perfect ex-
amples of needle-point ace such as point
dAlencon. Venetian rose point, or point
dArgentan will certainly las. and look beautiful
long after modern Brussels lace has worn itself.
out. The materials employed for antque
point d'Alencon were the finest possible hand
spun fax, together with the horse hair or silver
wire, over which the pattern was worked. These
materials render the lace exceedingly strong
and durable, although the is quite as
light and graceful as that of the more snowy
productions of Belgium. Jay Gould takes pc
culiar interest in unique workmanship OF any
kind. This piece of lace has been studied by
him. He assured friend of mine, in showing
and explaining the treasure. that such magnif-
days when point d'Alencon was lace produced
in considerable quantities, and important exam
Piles never be produced again. There are
but few workers left who can produce these ex-
traordinary qualities of edle-point lace, and
it seems a grievous pity that the taste of modern
times should be in favor of effect and quantity
rather than quality and perfection in design and
execution. AS the lace makers must of neces-
sity work only to suit the public taste, the art
of making this exquisite needle-roint lace is no
longer learned by the work girls. 1t does not
paw in fact, to teach them. they would prob
ably not be able to earn living, even when ar
rived at proficiency in this most beautiful and
interesting art. Hurrah for the Gould baby.
year or so ago every woman carried to the
theater a cut glass scent bottle as big a po-
liceman's club. But pretty it was discov-
cred that few Jumps OF sugar accompanied the
bottle, and that women 6roped enough liquor on
the sugar to get in q comforting state of booze
during five-act play. Then occasionally
accident happened. At Irving's first presenta-
ton of Hamlet" lady we'll down in front
dropped her huge cut-glass truncheon. 1t broke
souarely in the middle and the place smeIled
like a oar-roo m away back to the last rows. for
her scent bottle was filled with choice old rye.
sect thee to a nunery," advised Irving, and the
poor old girl who owned the gau6y comforter,
departed smelling as if he had hidden her to get
Now the latest fad is the lorgnette. Ladies
sit with these huge tortoies shell-things held to
their faces
what be they7" said a real old Joshua Whit
comb. who was taken by a city friend to the
theater; they look like razors for all che
world"
The long handled she'll lorgnette is fitted with
perfectly plain glass, nine times out of ten. .he
oculists will tell you. but it is trying to the
eyes to sit whole evening as many women do,
and look through two shell hoops, though the
glass may be clear and clean. However, it is
the fashion. and will encourage weak eyes. to
the benefit of that class Of humanity who deal
in spectacles as well as lorgnettes.
Our mothers and grandmothers made a seri-
GUS business of shopping The quantity of in
formation they demanded about the birth and
education of piece of black silk. before they
bought it, is not looked for now. The taking
home of a sample to see how calico was going
to wash is an obsolete custom. ! remember my
dear old grandma sitting chair in Wash
ington street store, in Boston. chewing vigor-
ously with the few teeth time had left her on
EaQ
run. before she bought me dress off pattern
of French calico. The other day some lady
said in my hearing oh never buy corduroy.
1t is some thing dreadful 1t never wears out. ;"
There is going to be a curiously religious IL
Elimination of fashionable finery. In your visits
to New York, Broadway has. OF course, been
your chief stamping ground. That being so,
you have seen Grace Church standing at the
head of the lower section of Broadway, right